Book Nook Cafe discussion

Kiki, the same thing happened to me with formatting yesterday. Annoying

Are there any books you would recommend for Disability Pride Month ?


Celebrate Disability Pride Month and with these books that put representation first
USA TODAY

Americans celebrate Disability Pride Month every July, commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entert...


GR links for books in the article:

True Biz

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century

Out on a Limb

Seven Days in June

Turtles All the Way Down

Cemetery Boys

Two Wrongs Make a Right

Love From A to Z

Alone With You in the Ether

James wrote: ""If my books had been any worse, I should not have been invited
to Hollywood and if they had been any better, I should not have come."..."

Excellent!

Rachel wrote: "Detransition, Baby

This book is about a demographic that I was pretty unfamiliar with. I am glad I read it as it opened my mind.
Please keep in mind if anyone is interested in read..."

From the GR reviews i sampled, it sounds far from something i'd like to visit. One person wrote the prose was chaotic, did you feel that, too?

Alias Reader wrote: "

Are there any books you would recommend for Disability Pride Month ?


Celebrate Disability Pride Month and with these books that put representation first
USA TODAY..."

Thanks for the list, Alias. I'm not familiar with any of the titles, so am grateful i now have some.

Thanks for the Dr. Seuss update for readers, Alias! Cute.

madrano wrote: "Celebrate Disability Pride Month and with these books that put representation first
USA TODAY..."

Thanks for the list, Alias. I'm not familiar with any of the titles, so am grateful i now have some.."

I've read two from the list. I gave both 4/5 rating.

Here was my short recap from the March 2024 thread.

True Biz by Sara Nović True Biz by Sara Nović
Genre: Fiction
Rate: 4/5 Good
The novels focus is mostly on three people. Charlie is deaf and both her parents can hear. Austin is deaf and so are his parents. February is headmistress of River Valley School for the Deaf. She is CODA, a child of a deaf Adult. I did appreciate all the info on ASL, lip reading, and cochlear implants and the Deaf community.
I couldn't decide if I would rate this book a 3/5 or 4/5. I decided to give this novel 4/5 rating because I felt I learned a lot and I appreciated that the author provided links for additional info.
The story I would give a 3/5. The plot was a bit convoluted and dragged at times. The ending was ambiguous. Though the author does address this choice in the author notes at the end.

------------------------
From the March What I read thread 2023


Turtles All the Way Down by John Green Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Fiction
eBook
Rate: 4/5 - exceeded my expectations
This is a young adult novel. It's not a genre I usually read. Even though I am not the target audience, I enjoyed the book quite a bit. The story mainly revolves around teen Aza Holmes. Aza suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and hypochondria. The author, John Green, also suffers from severe anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. Therefore his descriptions of Aza's thought spirals that debilitate her certainly ring true and make you feel for Aza and hopefully better understand people who are tormented by this mental illness.

Alias Reader wrote: ""

Cute, Alias! Thank you! :-) And thank you for the list!

Alias Reader wrote: "madrano wrote: "Celebrate Disability Pride Month and with these books that put representation first
USA TODAY..."

Thanks for the list, Alias. I'm not familiar with any of the titles, so am gratefu..."

Glad you enjoyed the books, Madrano. I'm enjoying The Fifth Heart by Dan Simmons. It's lighter than I usually read, and I think I need that because I've found physical therapy is hard work! Really, really hard! But my therapist says I'm significantly stronger than I was a few weeks ago and making excellent progress, so I figured that warranted a lighter book than the dark books I usually read. And write!

I do have to say, I have worked every waking hour to get stronger. Literally. I have one difficult exercise that has to be done every hour.

Get strong, readers, and keep your strength up. It's such hard work to get it back.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Kiki, the same thing happened to me with formatting yesterday. Annoying"

Today, for a while, things were reversed for me, but I logged out and back in, and it was fine.

Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: ""

Cute, Alias! Thank you! :-) And thank you for the list!"

You're welcome.

Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote:

But my therapist says I'm significantly stronger than I was a few weeks ago "

Excellent !

Alias Reader wrote: "Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote:

But my therapist says I'm significantly stronger than I was a few weeks ago "

Excellent !"

Thank you, Alias. Now, I've been given an even harder exercise to do, but I will crush it! Having really good physical therapists makes a world of difference. :-)

Alias Reader wrote: ""

That is fabulous. Thanks for sharing it.

Alias Reader wrote: "

Are there any books you would recommend for Disability Pride Month ?


Celebrate Disability Pride Month and with these books that put representation first
USA TODAY

Americans celebrate Disabili..."

Hey Alias, Thanks for posting about Disability Pride Month and the helpful list of books.

Rachel wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "

Are there any books you would recommend for Disability Pride Month ?


Celebrate Disability Pride Month and with these books that put representation first
USA TODAY

America..."

You're welcome, Rachel.

How sad is this. I think TV, streaming shows, gaming and the internet have replaced reading for many. :(

More than a third of UK adults have given up reading for pleasure, study finds
Jul 24 2024

Half of adults in the UK do not regularly read for pleasure, according to new survey data.

The study, commissioned by the charity the Reading Agency, saw 15% of adults reporting that they have never been regular readers, and 35% saying that they are lapsed readers, meaning that they used to read regularly for pleasure, but rarely or never do now.

Source: The Guardian

Alias Reader wrote: "I've read two from the list. I gave both 4/5 rating.

Here was my short recap from the March 2024 thread...."

Thanks for sharing these again with us, Alias. I recall that you read both, as it happens, but not your actual reviews. The Green YA sounds quite good to me.

Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "But my therapist says I'm significantly stronger than I was a few weeks ago and making excellent progress ..."

Great news, Kiki! I know that encouragement will help inspire you during more challenging days.

Alias Reader wrote: "How sad is this. I think TV, streaming shows, gaming and the internet have replaced reading for many. :(

More than a third of UK adults have given up reading for pleasure, study finds
Jul 24 2024..."

While i don't doubt this, i've learned from watching my own daughter that this can go back & forth. As a child, she was an avid reader, right through college. Then, there was a decade where she seldom picked up a book to read. After that, her frequency increased. It's still far from her former voracious reading appetite but she savors them more, from what i see.

My point is, while it is discouraging to read that headline, it's my belief that readers will return. In a different fashion, no doubt, but return. Or maybe this is just "Pollyanna Deb" thinking. ;-)

madrano wrote: "Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "But my therapist says I'm significantly stronger than I was a few weeks ago and making excellent progress ..."

Great news, Kiki! I know that encoura..."

Thank you, Madrano, but it is tough going. But, at least I am progressing nicely.

madrano wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "How sad is this. I think TV, streaming shows, gaming and the internet have replaced reading for many. :(

More than a third of UK adults have given up reading for pleasure, stu..."

I was an avid reader from age four until graduation from college, then I became a lapsed reader for a time, as work, travel, and outdoor activities took over. Now, I love to read again when my kids allow me to. It's just part of the ebb and flow of our interests in life, I think. I think a lot of those readers will return to reading someday, too. But I'm also a "glass half-full" optimist.

Friday 26th
🎂


George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 1880s to his death and beyond. He wrote more than sixty plays, including major works such as Man and Superman (1902), Pygmalion (1913) and Saint Joan (1923). With a range incorporating both contemporary satire and historical allegory, Shaw became the leading dramatist of his generation, and in 1925 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Born: July 26, 1856, Portobello
Died: November 2, 1950, Ayot St Lawrence, United Kingdom

----Wiki bio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...

Pygmalion

Saint Joan

Major Barbara

Man and Superman

George Bernard Shaw

Thank you, Alias. He was a great talent.

Alias Reader wrote: "How sad is this. I think TV, streaming shows, gaming and the internet have replaced reading for many. :(

More than a third of UK adults have given up reading for pleasure, study finds
Jul 24 2024
..."

It saddens me to know that reading is becoming passe if it isn't already. What a lot people are misssing by not reading for pleasure. I come from a family of readers but my brother hated reading. Do you think that these people are not facile readers and so it is a challenge for them?

Alias Reader wrote: "Friday 26th
🎂


George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on W..."

I wonder what people at that time would have thought of people not reading as much. Plus I am reasonably sure there was less literacy among the working classes.

Happy Birthday George Bernard Shaw. ✨🎈✨🎈✨

A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron

This is Byron's debut novel for her 'Golden Motel' cozy mystery series. In the story, two novice hoteliers in California become murder suspects, so they decide to investigate themselves.

Nice setting and fun characters. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Rachel wrote:

"Do you think that these people are not facile readers and so it is a challenge for them?."

According to AI stats:
Reading level
The average reading level of American adults is eighth grade, but 21% read below a fifth-grade level and 44% do not read at or above a basic level.


Here are the other AI stats in response to my Q: Reading stats in the United States.

AI Overview
Learn more
…
Here are some reading statistics for the United States:

Reading for pleasure
20% of Americans read for pleasure every day, 27% read several times a week, 16% read once a week, 12% read once a month, 6% read less than once a month, and 19% never read for pleasure.

Number of books read
The average American reads 12 books per year, but 65% of Americans have not read a book in the past year. In 2023, 46% of Americans surveyed finished no books, and 5% read only one.

Reading level
The average reading level of American adults is eighth grade, but 21% read below a fifth-grade level and 44% do not read at or above a basic level.

Literacy
In 2022, 79% of U.S. adults were literate, with males having a literacy rate of 90% and females at 82.7%.

Other factors
White adults are more likely to read books than Black or Hispanic adults, and people with higher levels of education are more likely to be readers. Children who are read to at home also have a higher success rate in school

Alias Reader wrote: "Rachel wrote:

"Do you think that these people are not facile readers and so it is a challenge for them?."

According to AI stats:
Reading level
The average reading level of American adults is eig..."


Wow this information sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing this Alias;)

Thank you, Alias. My mom taught me to read at age four, and I love it. Of course, I was only reading age-appropriate books, but I kept up the daily reading until I left college. Now, I'm back to it. I'm glad she taught me so early. She also taught me to spell, to write in cursive, and simple basic math, so I was well prepared when I started school. The only problem is that it made school pretty boring for the first two years. After that, I was reading my school books and writing simple reports that got more and more complex as the years went on, but I've always been very thankful for the early home education. My mother really believed in it. She skipped three grades in school, and my youngest sister graduated high school at fourteen. She beat me; I graduated at fifteen and a half. I went from first grade to third grade and from sixth to eighth, and it was all due to the very early education and love of books and reading.

madrano wrote: From the GR reviews i sampled, it sounds far from something i'd like to visit."

AMEN!

Alias Reader wrote: "How sad is this. I think TV, streaming shows, gaming and the internet have replaced reading for many. :(

More than a third of UK adults have given up reading for pleasure, study finds
Jul 24 2024
..."

very very sad

Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "Thank you, Alias. My mom taught me to read at age four, and I love it. Of course, I was only reading age-appropriate books, but I kept up the daily reading until I left college. Now, I'm back to it..."

Kiki, did you go to school in the U.S.?

I think it is great that children are "schooled" before actually going to school, but research has shown that by 3rd or 4th grade, most kids have caught up and there is a leveling off. So the advantage is mostly gone by then. I taught 4th grade and saw this happen all the time.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "Thank you, Alias. My mom taught me to read at age four, and I love it. Of course, I was only reading age-appropriate books, but I kept up the daily r..."

I went to school mostly in Italy until my last few years of high school, JoAnn, which were completed at a private girls' school in Los Angeles.

I was always the girl who got the best grades in class, the one who was always at the top of the honor roll. In college, I never had a grade under 4.0. I graduated at the top of my class. I attribute all of that to the early education my mother gave me. Before I started to school, I probably had read 100 books or more. I got a new book every week. My younger sister loved reading, too, but my older sisters and brothers did not. They were not the good students my younger sister and I were. They all graduated with good enough grades, but they weren't honor students. My oldest brother reads a lot of books now, but they are all technical books related to his IT profession. Another brother is a very well respected artist, a painter and sculptor. My oldest sister simply married a wealthy man, which is what she wanted.

Hi guys! I would like to share my recent review of my reading. Well, it took me some time to finish reading this one, but it's actually worth it! If you would like to read a book about adoption, family, and who are fans of Nina Lacour, then this book is perfect for you. Have a great time reading!

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Nice review, Patricia. Thank you for sharing.

Patricia wrote: "

Wow this information sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing this Alias;)..."

You're welcome, Patricia.

Patricia wrote: "Hi guys! I would like to share my recent review of my reading. Well, it took me some time to finish reading this one, but it's actually worth it! If you would like to read a book about adoption, fa..."

Very nice review, Patricia.

Jewell and Yarros among winners at 2024 TikTok Book Awards

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2j...

Thank you for the link and information, Alias. Interesting!

The Paris Novel
Ruth Reichl
4/5 stars
I love Ruth Reichl but I thought this was a non-fiction book. However, it was a fictional book about Stella who has inherited some money from her mother so she who heads off for Paris and has some wonderful adventures and meets some wonderful people. Highly recommended!

Alias Reader wrote: "Friday 26th
🎂


George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on W..."

Long time Shaw fan here. He was a fascinating person, even if one doesn't count his writing, imo.

spilled over to me, so now i'm a fan of some, a surprise, as westerns were my personal bête noire. Same with WWII books, where i never followed him.*

My point is that i think even in this computer age, there are avid readers on topics which call to one. It's just finding those topics.

*As an aside, today we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of my dad's birth!

Barbara wrote: "A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron

This is Byron's debut novel for her 'Golden Motel' cozy mystery series. In the story,..."

Barbara, thank you for informing us of this new series. I really liked her Cajun Country mysteries (& miss them, sad she ended the series, in some ways). You also drew my attention to that series, btw. This new one sounds good, too, although the long standing traditions of Louisiana will be missing.

You gave us a neat look at what's upcoming in this one, too. Thanks.

Patricia wrote: "Hi guys! I would like to share my recent review of my reading. Well, it took me some time to finish reading this one, but it's actually worth it! If you would like to read a book about adoption, fa..."

Thanks for the reviews of these books, Patricia. I've noted them for friends who have adopted children, now in their pre-teen years. I'm grateful you shared these with us.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "I think it is great that children are "schooled" before actually going to school, but research has shown that by 3rd or 4th grade, most kids have caught up and there is a leveling off. ..."

My daughter learned to read by watching the letters & words as i read to her in a comfy arm chair. I didn't realize she could do it until she noted i was skipping words. ("Caught!")

What we observed is what you noted, JoAnn, the other kids were reading at similar ranges by the time they were all in 3rd grade. Fortunately, she had teachers who were careful with students who could read, so they wouldn't be bored. It takes good teachers to alter their work to adapt to individual students. We were always grateful.

Alias Reader wrote: "Jewell and Yarros among winners at 2024 TikTok Book Awards

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2j..."

Thanks, Alias. I wasn't aware TikTok had book awards. Good for them...and the awardees.

Julie wrote: "
The Paris Novel
Ruth Reichl
4/5 stars
I love Ruth Reichl but I thought this was a non-fiction book. However, it was a fictional ..."

My daughter read & liked this book, too, Julie. I've only read Reichl'sGarlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise but enjoyed it quite a bit.

And thanks for sharing with us!